Apparatus for processing cast elongated articles



ug- 4, 1951 L. L. JOHNSTON 2,563,844

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CAST ELONGATED ARTICLES Filed Feb. 11, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

INVENTOR a zaya/Ll/ofmsfon Aug. 14, 1951 1.. L. JOHNSTON APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CAST ELONGATED ARTICLES Filed Feb. I 11, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A a/LJo/msfon Aug. 14, 1951 L. L. JOHNSTON 2,563,344

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CAST ELONGATED ARTICLES Filed Feb. 11, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 [aye/Z dob/25 Patented Aug. 14, 1951 APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CAST ELONGATED ARTICLES Loyal L. Johnston, Zelienople, Pa., assignor to Herman Pneumatic Machine Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 11, 1948, Serial No. 7,575

1 Claim.

. This invention relates to apparatus for processmg cast elongated articles. It relates particularly to a plant of the continuous or line type for casting and further processing elongated articles.

While the invention is broadly applicable to apparatus for processing cast elongated articles it has especial utility when embodied in apparatus for processing cast iron pipe and particularly soil pipe. For purposes of explanation and illustration I shall describe the invention as embodied in apparatus for the processin of cast iron soil pipe.

There is a great demand for cast iron soil pipe which is a highly competitive product. Such pipe is made in various ways, the emphasis being on economy of production and low cost of product. I have devised apparatus for casting and further processing cast iron soil pipe by whose use I produce a product of desirably high and uniform quality at unprecedentedly low cost. Also by use of my apparatus I produce cast iron soil pipe at unprecedented speed in relation to the investment in equipment and the labor required. Use of my apparatus in the processing of cast iron soil pipe requires fewer workmen than have heretofore been required, resultin not only in increased economy but in greater uniformity of product because of maximum elimination of the personal element.

I provide apparatus for processing soil pipe or other cast elongated articles whereby the cast articles are received from the casting apparatus and are advanced continuously and automatically for further processing. The articles are preferably cast in molds made of mold forming material such as sand or the like and means are provided for reconditioning and recirculating the mold forming material for reuse. The casting apparatus is preferably of the centrifugaltype, especially when hollow articles such as lengths or sections of soil pipe are to be produced.

I provide apparatus for processing cast elongated articles comprising a mold in which an elongated article is adapted to be cast, means for upending the mold to discharge an elongated article cast therein and a conveyor receiving the discharged article. I preferably employ means receiving the discharged article and disposing it in generally horizontal position on th conveyor. Such means may include means arresting the discharged article and means for turning the article to generally horizontal position on the conveyor.-

I further provide apparatus for processing cast elongated articles comprising a flask adapted to provided which is adapted to engage the article when in generally upright position with its lower end resting on the article arresting means and to turn the article down to generally horizontal position. The article is desirably laid down on the article conveyor with its axis extending crosswise thereof.

I also provide apparatus for processing cast elongated articles comprising a plurality of flasks arranged in generally side by side relationship, means for delivering mold forming material into the flasks, means for formin molds of the mold forming material in the flasks, means for introducing into the thus formed molds molten material whereby to cast in the molds elongated articles, means whereby the cast elongated articles may be simultaneously discharged from the flasks and common means for receiving th mold forming material discharged from the flasks. The flasks are preferably adapted to move between generally upright and generally horizontal positions, the means for delivering mold forming material into the flasks being effective when the flasks are in generally upright position. The means for introducing molten material into the flasks are preferably effective when the flasks are in generally horizontal position. Especially when hollow articles such as lengths of pipe are to be produced means are preferably provided for spinning the flasks to centrifugally form the pipe sections therein.

I still further provide apparatus for processing cast elongated articles comprising a pit, casting apparatus disposedabovethe pit, two conveyors disposed in the pit below the casting apparatus, one for receiving mold forming material discharged into the pit by the casting apparatus and the other for receiving cast elongated articles discharged into the pit by the casting apparatus, and means deflecting said articles to cause the same to be delivered onto the second mentioned conveyor.

have formed therein a mold of mold -forming ma- 56 My apparatus desirably comprises casting ap- 3 paratus, a conveyor for receiving mold forming material discharged by the casting apparatus, means receiving the mold forming material from the conveyor and reconditioning the same for reuse and means for receiving and further processing cast elongated articles formed in the casting apparatus. The latter mentioned means pref erably include a continuous processing line receiving the articles from the casting apparatus and cleaning and coating the articles. Conveying means preferably convey the articles continuously into and through the cleaning and coating apparatus. I desirably provide a receptacle containing coating liquid and conveying the articles from the casting apparatus into and through the coating liquid. The conveyor conveying the articles from the casting apparatus pr eferably. discharges them into the coating liquid and I provide means such as an inclined endless conveyor for delivering the articles out of the coating liquid. Such means are preferably soc'oiistruct'ed and arranged that as the "articles are delivered out of the coating liquid they are disposed at an angle to the horiz' ontaht'o promote drainage therefrom of excess coating liquid.

The mold forming materialreconditioning and recirculating means preferably include a sand muller or the like and conveying means for conveying the sand or other mold forming material from the point where it is discharged from the flask to the muller and thence to the overhead station from which it is fed to the flask.

I further provide apparatus for processing cast elongated articles comprising a source of molten material, a mold, a l'adle for pouring molten material into the moldahd a transfer ladle operable in a closed path fordelivering molten material from the source to the pouring ladle. I- may provide a plurality of molds, a plurality of ladles respectively for. pouring molten material into the respective molds and a transfer ladle having a plurality of discharge portions for delivering molten material from the source and discharging it simultaneously through said respective discharge portions into 'the pouring ladles. Means may be provided for simultaneously pouring'the contents of the pouring ladies into the respective molds.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of' a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds. V

111 the mpan n dr win s I have shown a present preferredembodiment'of the invention in which.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan .view with portions cut away foi aplant ior the casting and further processing of elongated articles;

Figure 21s a diagrammatic longitudinal elevational view withportions cut away and partly in vertical cross, sectlonof the plant shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic transverse elevational view to enlarged scale and partly in vertical cross section of the plant shown in Figures 1 diagrammatically because the invention herein claimed is not concerned with the structural details of the individual portions of the apparatus,

comprises essentially seven stations, an overhead station A for supplying mold forming material, a casting station B, a mold forming material and cast article receiving station C, an article cleaning station D, an article coating station E, an article loading station F and a mold forming material reconditioning station G. Conveying means operate between various stations as shown in the drawings to bring about a continuous or line type process. The mold forming material, hereinafter referred to as sand, is continuously reconditioned and recirculated for reuse while the cast elongated articles are continuously advanced successively to the cleaning station, the coating station and the loading station.

I provide any suitable source of molten material for casting of the. elongated articles. For the casting of cast iron soil pipe I may form molten iron in a cupola 2. I. provide an oval track 3 adjacent the cupola, the track being carried by I-beams 4 disposed-ate substantial distance above the floor levelE. The track is of generally'chaninel'shape and receives rollers 6 fromwhich'is suspended by a carrier 1 an elongated ladle 8 trunnioned on the carrier at 9. The ladle 8*has four equally spaced pouring lips I 0. The ladle 8 is adapted to be moved around'the; track 3 to receive molten iron from the cupola Zand'then to be moved to the position shown in- Figures} and 3 opposite the casting stationB; or opposite any battery of flasks-if a plurality-of batter-i es'of flasks are employed.

There is providedapit ll means-cav m n is disposed beneath the casting'station B5 Bridge ing" the pit'is at least one base [2 carrying a battery of flasks l3. There maybe any-desired number of batteries of'fiasksf'ln Figures-me battery of flasks is shown in solid-line's endanother battery in chainli ne's'. If-a plurality'of batteries of flasks are employedthey-are preferably aligned longitudinally of thepita 'Eaeh battery of flasks may contain any 'convenient number of flasks, four flasks being shown'in-each battery. The flasks and the mechanis-rncooperating therewith maybe of the sameg'eneral character as the flask and cooperatingniechanism disclosed in my copending 'application Serial No. 648,318, filed February 18,1946; nowmatured into Patent No. 2,449,900. The invention claimed in this case is not concerned-wi th-the details of construction of the flasks and-their cooperating mechanism, the same being shown only diagram matically.

The four flasks it are connectedtogether asa unit, the fiaskun-it being mounted to=turn..between generally vertical and g nerall y horizontal positions about-a horizontal axis it. Each cit-the flasks has a coreholder l5. 'Meansare provided for spinning the flasks for centrifugal casting;

Mounted above thecasti-ngstation B attire overhead station A isa sand hopper-t6 which receives sand from a belt-conveyor l1: and which is adapted periodically to. discharge sandintosiun;

'nels is; There arefour-funnels..li3 spaced.-.apa.rt

the same as are the-flasks-ihthe iunnels being adapted. to bedisposed directlyiabove thefiasks when the flasks. are in vertical positionasshown in Figure 3. -When-the flasksare insuch; position the bettomsoi the flasks areclosed' to .retaimthe sand therein. Saudis-introduced intoithefiasks. Means are providediorrormingsand molds iii-the flasks, suchmeans including a battery-1 ofitm anedrels 'ifi which are adapted-tube:introducedinto the flasks as in my said,.copending.eapplication. When the mandrels-are-introduced..intatheflasks the flasks are rotated, and the mandrels are preferably moved transversely of their axes to form the molds. After the mandrels have formed the molds in the flasks the mandrels are withdrawn.

There is provided a wheeled carrier 2!] adapted to be positioned generally below the ladle 8 when the latter is disposed at the casting station, the carrier 20 having four pouring ladles 2| spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the flasks and disposed generally beneath the respective pouring lips Ill of the ladle 8. All four of the ladles 2| tilt together by turning of the shaft 22. A funnel 23 receives the contents of each ladle 2| and directs the same into one of the flasks.

The funnels I8 are adapted to be moved along a track 24. Similarly a battery of strippers 25 is adapted to be moved along the track 24 into position above the flasks.

In the pit is a sand conveyor 26 extending along the pit from the station C. One side of the conveyor 2b is beneath the flasks is. Also disposed at the pit is a pipe conveyor 2'3. The pipe conveyor 21 likewise extends along the pit and is disposed above one side of the sand conveyor 26. The pipe conveyor 21 is disposed above the side of the sand conveyor 26 opposite the side of the sand conveyor which is below the flasks.

A shelf 28 is mounted in the pit at about the level of the top of the conveyor 2'! and above the left hand side of the conveyor 23, viewing Figure 3. The shelf 28 contains perforations 29. A bracket 3|! has pivoted thereto at 3| an arm 32 for a purpose to be presently described.

The conveyors 26 and 27 are endless belt conveyors which extend horizontally along the pit from the station C. The sand conveyor 26 is adapted to convey sand which it dumps onto an endless belt conveyor 33 in a trench 34. The conveyor 33 conveys the sand laterally in the trench 34 whence it is elevated by an endless bucket conveyor 35 and delivered into a sand muller 36 where it is reconditioned for further use. The reconditioned sand is elevated from the muller by an endless bucket conveyor 31 and delivered onto the endless belt conveyor H which delivers it to the hopper IS.

The endless belt pipe conveyor 2? delivers pipes along the pit I toward the right, viewing Figure 2, onto an endless flight conveyor 38. The pipes, lying in horizontal position across the conveyor, are delivered to a conveyor 39 which moves the pipe through the cleaning station D. The cleaning station D comprises a hood 4E and cleaning means not shown which may be nozzles for directing onto the pipes at high velocity under air pressure sand, grit, shot or other abrasive. The cleaned pipes are delivered into a tank 4| containing coating material which may be molten bitumen or tar. The pipes are lifted out of the tank 4| by an endless flight conveyor 42 which delivers them onto a car 43 at the loading station :5.

At the beginning of a cycle the four flasks l3 which are empty will have their lower ends closed, the flasks being then positioned vertically as shown in Figure 3 to receive sand from the hopper I6 through the funnels I8. After the flasks have received the sand they are turned down to horizontal position and spun. The mandrels I!) are introduced into the flasks to form molds therein in a manner analogous to that disclosed in my said copending application. After the molds have been formed the mandrels are withdrawn and cores are applied. The flasks with the molds and cores therein are spun and molten 6 iron which has been delivered from the cupola by the ladle 8 andpoured from the ladle 8 into the ladles 2| is then poured from the ladles 2| through the funnels 23 into the molds to form cast iron soil pipe sections. After the pipe sections have been thus centrifugally cast the cores are removed and the flasks are turned to vertical position as shown in Figure 3. The strippers 25 are positioned above the flasks and are operated to push the pipes downwardly and out of the bottoms of the flasks. The pipes are designated 44.

The pipes and the sand from the flasks drop downwardly. The sand falls upon the sand conveyor 26. The pipes have their downward endwise movement arrested by the shelf 28. The sudden arresting of the downward movement of the pipes causes the sand clinging thereto to be dislodged and substantially all the sand from the flasks and the pipes falls upon the conveyor 26 either over the edge of the shelf 28 or through the openings 29 therein. The pipes are turned down to horizontal position lying across the pipe conveyor 2?, this being effected by the arms 32 which engage the upper portions of the pipes and gradualy lower them as indicated in Figure 3. The pipes lie across the conveyor 21 in generally horizontal position and are delivered by that conveyor to the conveyor 38. The conveyor 38 elevates the pipes and delivers them to the conveyor 39 which passes them through the cleaning station D wherein they are cleaned, especially externally. The cleaned pipes are then dumped into the tank 4| where they are coated by immersion. They are raised out of the coating liquid by the conveyor 42 which is arranged to remove the pipes from the tank while the pipes are in tilted position, as, for example, by arranging the conveyor in tilted position as shown in Figure 4, to promote drainage of excess coating liquid therefrom. The conveyor 42 delivers the cast, cleaned and coated pipes to the loading station F.

The pipes when they reach the tank 4| still contain enough of their original heat that they do not need to be reheated prior to coating. The heat of the pipes maintains the bath of coating liquid at desired temperature so no other source of heat is needed. Also the heat of the pipes aids in evaporation of the coating liquid applied to them and in quick drying.

The arms 32 may be operated individually or together. Their free ends may be formed to embrace the pipes. The pipes may be turned down over the pipe conveyors 21 manually or by other means, the arms 32 simply providing a convenient mechanism for the purpose.

When a plurality of batteries of flasks are employed there may be a plurality of hoppers IB one above each battery or the hopper it may be movable to positions above the respective batteries. Similarly when a plurality of batteries of flasks are employed a set of funnels |3 and a set of strippers 25 may be used for each battery or the same set of funnels and strippers may be moved selectively to positions above th respective batteries.

Methods disclosed in this application are claimed in my copending application Serial No. 7,574, filed of even date herewith.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

Apparatus for casting and processing elongated 1 articles comprising casting apparatus including a mold comprisingv eompaeted-mold forming material for casting an elongated article and openable to discharge the cast elongated article endwise downwardly together with mold forming material, article arresting means mounted in permanently fixed position in the path of downward movement of theelongated article when the article" is discharged endwise downwardly from the casting apparatus to arrest the downward movement of the article and dislodge mold forming material therefrom, amounting member separate from the articlearresting means and an article manipulating member attached to the mounting member and movable felatively to the article'arresting means while an article is disposed in generally uprightposition with its lower end i'esting on the art1c1e e;r'resting' means to engage the article'to assist in removing the article from the article arresting meansz LoYAL L, JOHNSTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references'are of record inthe file of this patent:

8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 682,116 Lynch Sept. 3, 1901 689,563 Orc'utt et a1 Dec. 24, 1901 856,996 Custer et a1 June 11, 1907 938,904 Sherman Nov. 2, 1909 951,576 Price Mar. 8, 1910 1,280,118 De Lavaud Oct. 1, 1918 1,386,269 MoWane Aug. 2 1921 1,798,485 Mulvihill Mai; 31, 1931 1,808,366 Mel/Vane June 2,1931 1,810,183 Mathieu June 16, 1931 1,830,427 Deville'rs Nov. 3', 1931 1,911,542 Wurster May 30, 1933 1,912,361- Camerota June 6, 1933 1,936,376 Camerota Nov. 21, 1933 2,030,482 Summey Feb. 11, 1936 2,114,975 Camerota Apr. 19, 1938 2,184,519 Eppensteiner Dec, 26, 1939 2,340,262- Cra-Wford Jan. 25, 1944 2,449,900 Johnston Sept. 21, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES ber 5', 1946. 

